The full story...

Police grilled by Senators over Corby related raid

CHRIS UHLMANN: Some of the nation's top police officers have been grilled by politicians over last week's raids on Channel Seven.

Australian Federal Police officers told a Senate hearing they felt they had 'no choice' but to carry out the operation in an attempt to get more information about the TV network's negotiations with convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

Several senators repeatedly raised their concerns about the AFP's actions and an error it made on a document relating to the raid.

But the Attorney-General George Brandis says he has 'no criticism' of the police.

From Canberra, James Glenday reports.

JAMES GLENDAY: The case of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has captivated and concerned the nation, and late last night, the AFP's efforts to stop Ms Corby selling her story captivated and concerned Senators.

TONY NEGUS: We understand this is a difficult issue for Channel Seven, absolutely. Would they enjoy having police officers turn up at their doorstep and issue a search warrant? Absolutely not and I understand that.

JAMES GLENDAY: During an estimates hearing, police chief Tony Negus and one of his deputies, Michael Phelan faced a barrage of questions from Liberal Senator Helen Kroger about why they thought it necessary or appropriate to raid Channel Seven while it was in negotiations with the Corby family for an exclusive interview.

MICHAEL PHELAN: At the time there was a lot of material around, even from Channel Seven, around a deal being done.

HELEN KROGER: As there was with networks Ten, as there was with networks Nine.

MICHAEL PHELAN: Well those networks didn't have one of their major presenters sitting in the same villa.

JAMES GLENDAY: The officers argued Schapelle Corby's luxury villa was enough to give the impression a deal was close

They say Channel Seven was 'helpful' during negotiations and at handing over information, but commissioner Negus says his staff thought there were documents missing that they needed.

His explanation for carrying out the raid clearly annoyed independent Senator Nick Xenophon.

TONY NEGUS: They went to a magistrate; they convicted a magistrate, based on information…

NICK XENEOPHON: Because you suspected they were going to destroy documents. That's an outrageous assertion on your part.

TONY NEGUS: No, I've made no such assertion.

JAMES GLENDAY: The AFP said it had to act quickly, because in the past it had struggled to seize money paid to the Corby family for a book deal.

MICHAEL PHELAN: Over a quarter of a million of dollars went offshore and was lost to the jurisdiction.

JAMES GLENDAY: The officers say they're still waiting to find out exactly what information is in the documents they seized, and insisted a mistake on a document related to the raid didn't affect the AFP's right to carry out the operation.

Related Links

Images

Click an image to enlarge

From the Archives

Around 500 Indigenous people fought in the First World War, and as many as 5,000 in the second. But many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers who made it home received little or no recognition for their contribution. On Anzac Day, 2007, the first parade to commemorate their efforts and bravery was held in Sydney. Listen to our report from that day by Lindy Kerin.